AI-generated featured image for: Mary, the Protoevangelium, and the Marian Dogmas

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The Protoevangelium of James is the earliest surviving written source for several beliefs about Mary that later became Roman Catholic dogma or devotion. When we trace those beliefs back, we find a second-century legend, not the apostles’ writings. What the Protoevangelium says about Mary Quotations are from the Alexander Walker translation, *Ante-Nicene Fathers*, Vol. 8 (1886). – Her miraculous birth. An angel announces it to her childless mother: > “Anna, Anna, the Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive, and shall bring forth.” (ch. 4) – Her childhood in the Temple. At age three she is presented at the Temple and lives there: > “MaryRead More →

Fatima, Signs, and the Question of Authority: Why I Hold to Scripture Alone

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Every year on October 13, Roman Catholics around the world remember the final apparition of Our Lady of Fatima. It happened in 1917, in the fields outside a small village in Portugal. For many Catholics it is a treasured part of their faith. For me, as a Protestant, it raises a question that is worth asking calmly and honestly: when someone says they have received a message from heaven, how do we know whether it is true? I want to describe what Rome teaches as fairly as I can, in its own words, and then explain from Scripture why I hold the position I do.Read More →

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In Matthew 1:25 the greek word for know is “ginosko” which can mean “come to know” – or sexual intercourse. Roman Catholicism teaches Mary remained a virgin her entire life. So they must posit here that Joseph got to know her better after Jesus was born and they stayed married but never engaged in any marital relations. In Genesis 4:1 Adam knew (yāḏa) his wife and she conceived and bore Cain. Even though the word know is used here we can deduct that this use of the word know was referring to marital relations.   Matthew 1:25 25 and did not know her till sheRead More →

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I used to go to psychics, consult with mediums, and my wife and I used to really enjoy ‘ghost hunting’ not realizing this was a sin. I’ve since repented of this and walked away from that dangerous practice. I understand that people who engage in this kind of stuff don’t think it’s wrong, and in many ways see it as ‘good’ just as I did; but according to God’s Word the dead cannot hear us, so who, or whatever we are consulting with, is not human and unlikely an angel of light. Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 For the living know that they will die, but the deadRead More →

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In: Catholicism, Mary, Pope Francis says the darndest things

I came across this article last night from a Mass that Pope Francis spoke seen here, and video here. Before I say anything, for my Roman Catholic friends/family this isn’t an attack on any of you personally. I’m not questioning your faith or salvation. I only ask that you lend me your ear/eyes for a few minutes. Feel free to rebuke my statements or correct any errors I may have made here. In the Mass the Pope instructs us to turn to Mary for prayer, to protect us, to guard our faith, and without her we cannot be children of God. He is using Biblical languageRead More →